Woman trapped in car, driver suspected of DUI in North County crash

A Shell Beach woman suffered major injuries and an Atascadero man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after the truck they were in crashed into an oak tree Sunday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.

About 5:40 p.m., Andrew David DeVillers, 45, was driving east on Pozo Road in his 2007 GMC Sierra pickup when he tried to negotiate a left curve, the CHP said. As he did, the right-side tires left the pavement and started sliding on the dirt shoulder, which sloped down an embankment. DeVillers was not able to steer back to the road, and the side of the truck crashed into an oak tree, pinning passenger Jacqueline Plumey, 53, inside, according to the CHP.

Pozo Road was closed for about two hours about six miles east of Santa Margarita Lake Road as fire crews worked to extricate Plumey from the wreckage. A CHP helicopter flew Plumey to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo with life-threatening injuries, specifically “massive trauma to her right leg,” the CHP said.

As of Monday morning, the CHP said Plumey was still being evaluated at the hospital.

DeVillers was evaluated for driving under the influence of alcohol at the scene, the CHP said, and he submitted to a breath test. He was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI causing injury to another and was taken to San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Both DeVillers and Plumey were wearing seatbelts, the CHP said.

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Woman trapped in car, driver suspected of DUI in North County crash."